Exiled Tibetan sets himself on fire in 100th self-immolation

A Tibetan exile set himself on fire in the Nepalese capital Wednesday, bringing the number of the fiery protests to 100, officials said.

The young man, dressed as a monk, doused himself with petrol before setting himself ablaze and chanted pro-Tibetan independence slogans near the Boudhanath Stupa in Kathmandu, the AP said, citing eyewitnesses.

He was engulfed in flames before police were able to extinguish the fire and took him to a hospital. The man, believed to be in his 20s, is in critical condition.

About 100 Tibetans are believed to have set themselves on fire since 2009 in protest over perceived religious persecution in Chinese-ruled Tibet. Most of the cases were reportedly fatal.

The Tibetan government-in-exile have urged its people to end the protests.

“We feel very sad that this happened. The Tibetan leadership has been urging people to refrain from such drastic steps for long,” Tempa Tsering, the Dalai Lama’s representative, said.

Beijing has accused the Dalai Lama of inciting the self-immolations and has cracked down on people for encouraging the fiery protests.